Method of manufacturing tire tubes



Sept 11, ma 1.683.669

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING T I 'TU BES A. E. HENpERsopj- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mea sept. so. 1921 lrue/nl-of/ lbertEHenderson (wmmu Patented Sept. 1l, 1:928.

UNITED STATES ALBERT ENNrs innvnnnsolv, or TORONTO, ONTARIO, GANADA.

MIEITHIII) F MANUFACTURING TIRE TBES.

Application led September 30, 1921. Serial No. 504,403.

The object of theinvention is to provide a method of producing a supeliortiie tube as to strength, durability,A economy of material, resistance to pinching and puncture and minimization of leakage, under' such, conditions as to utilize the maximum natural elas-` ticity of the-component rubber *as it is at present commercially."prepared in. calen-l dered sheet `form, and in full recognition of the fact `that ysuch tubes are at present produced for the trade bytransversely rolling a calendered sheet to form `a series of twolor more laminas in `which the grainf of the rubber or the line of calender-ing movement of the sheet is parallelwith the lengthl of the tube. Y

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference isinade hereinafter as a means of elucidating the' method and illustrating certain of the steps thereof- Y w A Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an ap.- paratus for assembling and arrangingthe material parts of a tube preparatory to the rolling of the same.

Figure '2 fsaview of a sheet of calendered rubber having the *longitudinal grain indicated'thereon and showing the transverse (perpendicular .andf`oblique) lines of sepa-` ration of the strips vi'ormedtherei'rcnn.V Figure 3 shows a series of strips vplaced endtoend. y 's s Figure 4 shows a doubleseries of stripsthose of one series beiner inverted with reference to those of `the other, as. shown by the grain marks thereon, t y Figure 5show`s an insert composed of two series of relatively inverted strips and fabric greenforcing y' elements adherently placed thereon in overlapping staggered' relation, portions of the layersbeing broken away to progressively show the several parts.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of theinei sert on the second sheet of calendered rubber and the direction of rolling thelattertoform the tubepreliminary to vulcanizing. i y Figure 7 representsa diagrammatic View of a modified foi-moi apparatusfor assembling the parts which go to make up a tube.

In `carrying out the invention, an ordinary calendered sheet -10 `of `the raw rubber is slitted or cut on lines transverse to the sheet or to the line of progress of they sheet as it leaves the calender rolls, said transverse lines being either perpendicularto the side edges Vorthe line of progress ofthe sheet as at 11 .l or obliqueto said side edges or line ofprogress as at 12 to forni relatively short. strips 13, which are then placed end toend to form a series as shown in Figure 3. The end edgesk ofthe strips are formed by the side edges of the sheet, so that the lines of the grain eX- tendl transversely of 'the f strips. The l end edges of the strips may be slightlyoverlapped :and pressed lightlyto cause 'surface adherence. t

Vhen the strips are cut on obliquel lines, thejgrain extends transversely thereof on oblique lines and this type of `strip is especially adapted for use in the 'form of insert shown in Figure Ll, wherein a plurality of series 14 and l5 each consistingof strips arranged end to end are arranged in superposed and preferably coextensive relation and byl inverting the strips ofone series 15 or turning them upside down with reference to the other series 14, the grain of the strips in ing the planes of the grain in the strips of the other series. Obviouslyfthe numberO series is subject to multiplication but preferablyjadjacent series are arranged with the grain of their strips in intersecting relation.

VAs to whether this intersection is at a right" angle or an acute or an obtuse angle with refone series lies in planes intersecting or'crossposes for which the `tube is designed and the Y that connection.' Y The 'fabric reenforcing elements 16 consist-` ing'of canvas or its equivalentmay nowbe `applied to complete the insert, and while special strains to which it may be subjeetedin lthere Vis latitude for variation in this'respect',V

according to the'ultimate purpose ofthe tube, it is preferable to arrangethe same upon-'the oppositelor exposed side surface of the series of strips, and as shown in Figure, to ,dispose them in longitudinal and transverse spaced relation on each surfaces@ `as to leave s intermediate wholly unrestrictedzones of rubber and to relatively arrange the elements at the opposite surfaces ofthe strip in over-j i lapping staggered relation, so that the interr vals 17 between the elementsl on one side,

`cross or intersect the intervals 18 between the elements'lGa on the other side, tothe end that a hole for a valve stem may bepunched through the insert in such zones of theintervries ojl strips as `to Jfacilitate handling-and positioning the-completed .insert on Vthe sec ond calendereil sheet 1i, asshowu in Figure 6, in ,longitndinal relation thereto, orparah lelfwitligitssideedges. s Thestrips comprising th enseriess"vhicliI eoniposetlie insert are cut ,v of anwidthy proportionate oifbeai'ing a definitepioportion to the ,circumference rof the ultimate tube, as, 'for example, ot such a widtliias, to; extendy exactly once around the tube the sheet 19is rolledtransversely as indicated in A`li`i, fur e '6 to incorporate the insert, which is `thus coyei'edon each by at least one thickness of the material o'ttlie sheet 19.

Vlien the tube has been rolled it is ready for vulcanization,nor,for bendingto join the. ends if a tiretube is to be constructed, as aV step precedinggvuleanizatioii.

1n ,the diagrammatic View ,of Figure 1 therejissliowii aniendless belt 2Q 'forming a table4 upon which the obliquelyeut strips 2l niaybeaizranged iii anend lto end series with their oblique d end edges `slightly overlapped @as 16.22 to-receiye-a gentle fixing pressure e of,the cooperating-rolls 2.3 aiid24,. s ulicient merely toeause an adherence to guard against displaeernen t as the series progresses through the 'succeeding ysteps ofthe process. At 25 i isa second table ottlie endless'belt type upon which thestripsfl aresiinilarl f arranged and zterminally IixedA at their end Vedges whichare identical with thestrips A2l, is now inverted as shown and brought into super-A posed eoextensiye relation with r-the first seiie s,-tlie join sbetween tliestifips 27 .falling betiveemtliejoints in the irstseries, so as to break, and the coinposite strip or insert 30 k thus Viforiiied isbrought into surface contact at, one sidefwitlifabrie reinforcing ele-iv nientsl w,arranged oiigan endless table 32, where, by passingiinder a roll 33 adherence is assured; lfhence the continuous insert, as

yat qagyiitlrthefabric elements adhering to l,one side surface thereof is inverted to bring its, opposite side vsurface into contact with another series olffabric elements 35 arranged 'y Stripsas a lamination thereof, and iiiiallyi on tlieiendless table 36 and passing under the ixingj roll 37 the coiiipleted insert is then A-eonveyed `to Vand fed longitudinally upon the continuous calendered sheet-38 supplied, for example, by the stock roll 3S). The subsequent cutting of the sheet to the 'pioper'lengths, tlie"`transyerse rolling of these length into tubular y:toijin to incorporate the inserts and the 4final'vul'canizinlg' of the'tube will be un# derstooddfroin the foregoing description.

In Figure `7 I have shown the series of 'one' series' being' inverted with reference to properly splice longitudinally or the said l sheet 50 may be formed iipby the usual niccliaiiical ineans, so asftoforiua tube which inay be readilyy placed upon the usual pole, and vulcanized in tlieusual way.y i

In this diagrammatic View it willliie noted that the fabric strips have Aiiotabeen applied to the rubber sheets a-iidfinaylbe thus omitted ifdesiredexcept foryalve baseor biisesiyhich may be einbedded as desired.

-Haying described the inVentiiLrQIelaiin i 1;V The method producing a laminated` rubber tube which consists y.in c iitt'ing a calen# dered rubberslieet on transigerse lines to torni strips of a Width bearing a definite proportiongto the circumference et the ultimate tube, placing'said strips in series in end to end relation,parallel with lthe Alength of a second calendered sheet, rolling` said. second Y sheet transversely to incorporate gsaid series i offstrips and finally vuleanizinff.

2. The methodY of produeiiig a laminated i rubber tube which consists in euttingltlie calend ered rubber sheet Von yparallel trunsyerse lines to fornistrips o f'aV Aividtli lijropoijtioniite to thewcircnniferenee of theiultiinategtube, joining said, s'tril'isin end to. end relation to forni z iseries, placing said series parallel with the length of asc-.cond calendeiedl sheet, rolii' ing said second sheet transversely to. ineorporate said series of strips and finally vnlcaniziiig.-

zi, The maine ,iflifaucingfi inmensa,

tube, which eonsists'in cutting a ealenderedA rubber sheetoiiw parallel transrerse lines to forni strips of a'u'idthbearngha Vdefinite pro-4 portion to tliefcireuniifeijenee ofthe nltiiiiatef the overla'pp ingr edges ofisaid strips to cause adherence thereof, placing theseries of joined stripsfparallelwith `the length of a' second tube, VIJlaeing''saidfstrips infendV to end rela? tion, -with 1their `endedgesslightly overlap-y ping, to forni a series, applying pi'essureto calendered sheet, rollingsadsecond sheet` transversely 'toineorporate said series of to the length of the 'sheet to 'foi'instrips of a Awidth bearinga definite proportion tothe Vcii'cuiniterence'"of the ultimate tube,y placing said strips in end to' end relation to forma` dered rubber sheet on parallel lines oblique y plurality ofsuperposed seriesrthe strips in" Athose inan'othei"` series, arranging said superposed series parallel With the length ofann other calendered sheet, rolling said second sheet transversely to incorporate said -series of strips andffinzilly vulcanizing. i

`5. The method of producing a laminated rubber tube, which consists in cutting a calendered rubber sheet on parallel lilies `'oblique to thclength of the' sheet to forni strips of a Width proportionate to the circumference of the ultimate tube, placing said strips end tov end to form a plurality of superposed substantially coextensive series, the strips in one series being inverted With referenceto those in another series, arranging said superposed coextensive series parallel with the length of another calendered sheet, rolling said second sheet transversely to incorporate said series of strips and finally vulcanizing.

6. The method of producinga laminated rubber tube, which consists in cutting a caleir deied rubber sheet on pa `allel lines oblique to the length of the sheet to form strips of a Width proportionate to the circumference of the ultimate tube, placing said strips in end to end relation to form va plurality of superposed series, the strips in one series being inverted With ieference to those in another series, and the joints between the strips of one series being disposed between the joints of the other series, arranging said superposed series parallel with the length of an- "other calendered sheet, rolling said second Vformed upon and parallel with 'the length of a secon-d calendered sheet, rolling the said second sheet transversely to incorporate the series of strips, and finally vulcanizing.

8. The method of producing a laminated rubber tube, which consists in cutting a calendered Arubber sheet onparallel lines oblique to the length of a sheet to forin strips of a Width proportionate to the circumference of theultimate tube, arranging the strips in endl to end series` relation With their proximate edges overlapping, disposing a plurality of said series ofrstrips in superposed relation, the strips in one series being inverted with reference to those in another series, placing` thelfsaid plurality of series of superposed strips thus formed upon and parallel With the length of al second calendered sheet, rolling said second sheet transversely to incorporate said series of strips, and finally vulcanizinv,

9.V The method of producing arlaminated rubbertube;whichV consists in cutting a calendered Vrubber sheet on transverse linesto form stripsof a width proportionate to the circum-v i ference ofthe ultimate tube, placing said strips inend to end relation to form a series, placing` fabric reenforcing `elements on the surface of said seriesof strips to forni a reeiiforced insert, placing theinsert upon the surface of andlongitudinally as to a second calendered rubber sheet, rolling the said sec-` ond sheet transversely -to incorporaterthe insert and finally vulcanizing.

10. The method ofv producing a laminated rubber tube, Which consists in cutting a calendered rubber sheet on transverse lines to form strips of a Width proportionate to the circunii ference-of the ultimate tube, placing said strips in series in end to end relation, placing fabric reenforcing elements upon the 'opposite surfaces of said series of strips to form a reenforced insert, pressing the insert to cause adherence of said elements to the strips, placing the insert upon the surface of and longitudinally as to a second calendered rubber sheet, rolling the said second sheet transversely to incorporate the insert and finally vulcanizing. f

11. The method of producing av laminated rubber tube, which consists in cutting a calen-l dered rubber sheet on transverse diagonal lines to form strips of a Width proportionate to thel circumference of the ultimate tube, placing `said strips in superposed series with the strips in end to end relation, the strips of Yone series beingfinverted with relation to those of another series, placing fabric reenforcing elementsupon the surface of said series of strips to form a reenforced insert, placing the insert upon the surface of and longitudinally as to a second calendered rub# ber sheet, rolling the second sheet transversely to incorporate the insert, and finally vulcanizing. v Y

112. The method of producing 'a laminated rubber tube, which consists in cutting a calendered rubberl sheet on transverse diagonal "linesto form strips of a Width proportionate to the circumferencel of the ultimate tube,

placing said strips in superposed series in end to end relation, the stripsof one series being inverted with reference to those ofanother,

placing fabric reenforcing elements upon the Y opposite exposed surfaces ofy the series of strips, placing the insert upon the surface of and longitudinally as to a second calendeied rubber sheet, rolling the said second sheet transversely to incorporate `the insert, and finally vulcanizinv.

13. The method of producing a laminated rubber tube, which consists in cutting a calendered rubber sheet on transverse 'diagonal lines to form strips of a Width proportionate to the circumference of the ultimate tube, placingsaid strips in superposed series, the

strips being in end-toV end relation and the strips of one series being inverted with-reference to 'those ofanother, placing fabric reenforcing elements upon the opposite exposed surfaces of the series of strips to form a` reenforced insert, the elements on one side being arranged in overlapping staggered relirtion with' those on theother side, placing the Iinsert upon the surface o fand longitudinally as to a second culendered rubber sheet;` rollf 1 ALBERT ENNIS HENDERSON. 

